Loose-leaf binder



' Aug. 26,' 192.0.- A, G; Low-ER 1,774,281A

LOOSE LEAF BINDER' Filed Mroh' 1, 1928 QMMW f Patented Aug; 216, 1930` srarasi AIJOLI'IIY en Lorrnn, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AssIeNon 'ro In c. MILLER colu- IANY, yor MILWAUIIEnwIscoNsIN, A cOnronnrIoN OF wIscoNsIN y Application mea March 1, ieesf: rserial No. Vasignan.` f

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements 1n loose leaf binders and refersmore particularly kto binders? In whichthe leaves are held in position by arcuate ring members, the ring members being f carried bytwo similar sections forming the back of the binder, which are hingedly connected andsecured in theirV closed or locked position by spring catches. i

Heretofore, the opening of a binder of thisV type was attended with considerable.diiicultyy as twoy hands were required to release the spring catches positioned on eachv side of the binderand before the sections of the yback could be manually spread the catches would reengage themselves, and this invention has as a primary object the provision of means whereby the back member sections automatically' spread uponr the release of .the spring catches.v Y f Y y Another objectof this invention resides in the provision of an improved loose leaf binder of the character described in which springs are mounted at the hinge connection between the backfsections which normally urge the sections to their Open position whereby'releasing ofthe springcatches automatically opens the sections.

Veo

And a further object-of this linvention resides in the provision ofl a loose leaf binder ofthe character described which is extremely simple in Y operationV and constructed of a minimum number of parts. f

- With the'above and other objects incview which 4 will appear as the descriptionproceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of prts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined, by the appended claim', it f being understood that such changes in .the preciseV embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention mayV be made as come within the scope ofthe yclaim.

Inthe accompanying drawing,'I have illustrated one completeexample of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode lha-ve 'sofar devised or the practical application of the kprinciples thereof, 'and in which: f

`Figure 1 is a perspective'view of a loose 'eral'views, 5 designates two complementaryv sections hingedlyconnected at their meeting edges,'as at 6,?to Jform the back of a binder;

cover members?` being hingedly connected f to the sections 5, as at 8.

Each section 5 isz/preferably formed of bendablemetal of substantially L shape inr cross section having sides 9 and? 10 forming the legsof the L and provided with end pieces ,i f11 secured thereto in any desired manner.y

The sides 9y of the 'sections have strips 12 secured thereto, adjacent'their outer marginal (edges to which arcuate shaped lngers 13 arey riveted orotherwise secured; The'iingers 13 of one section are staggered with respect to those of the other section to overlap apertured, as at15, to receive the fingers 13.

The means for securing the sections 7oLL A leach other when the sectionsare closed, as l inrFigure 1, and the leaves 14 are suitably ally connected with the end member 11 ofthe y other section, as at 20. An operatingbuttonfr J 21 securedtheretoby` a stud, which passes throughan arcuate opening 22 in the end member, provides means for actuating the Y keeper; A spring 23 coiled about the pivot20 normally urges the keeper to its locking position, unlocking of the keeper being effected by moving the button 21 and consequently the member 19against the action of the spring 23; Both ends of the sections are provided with locking means as above described which are identical except thatv they are re- Y versed, the hookvmember 16 ofthe opposite end being carried by the section to which the keeper 18 is secured and vice versa.

In order to insure the opening of the see tions as soon as the buttons 21 are actuated to release the locking means, springs 24: are coiled about the pivot 26 of the hinged connection 6 between the sections at spaced intervals. The springs 24 have their ends 25 engaged against the inner Walls of the sides l0 of each section, to at all times urge the same to their open position,as Will be readily apparent from Figures 2 and 3.

From the foregoing description, takenl in connection with the accompanying drawing t it Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I have provided a loose leail binder in which the sections of the back automatically open upon releasing of their holding means to thus obviate the necessity of manually spreading the sections.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a loose leaf binder, a pair of sections each having end pieces and a plurality of retaining fingers adapted to pass through apertures in leaves to be retained in said loose leaf binder, means hingedly connecting the sections for movement to and from closed position, a hook-shaped member carried by an end piece of one section, locking lugs extended from said hook shaped member, a pivoted keeper carried by the adjacent end piece of the other section to cooperate with one of the locking lugs to secure the sections in closed position, means for vretracting the keeper, and means for moving the sections upon retraction of the keeper to engage the other hook-shaped member carried locking Alug lwith the keeper to secure the sections in v an intermediate position at which the ends of their retaining fingers overlap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliX my signature.

ADOLPI-I G. LOTTER. 

